The Camptonville area sits in the Sierra foothills at approximately 2,800 feet elevation, where summer temperatures often reach 90°F during peak camping season from May through September. Campgrounds in this region connect visitors to the Tahoe National Forest ecosystem, with oak woodlands giving way to mixed conifer forests. Several campsites near Camptonville, California provide access to both river recreation and reservoir activities with varying degrees of amenities.
What to do
Mountain biking and hiking trails: White Cloud Campground provides direct access to Pioneer Trail for outdoor activities. "So fun and quiet for the most part. Pioneer trail is amazing for mountain biking and hiking," notes one visitor about White Cloud.
Swimming at Yuba River: The South Yuba area offers natural swimming holes with clear, cool water. "This river trail is the best in the state. Clear water, lovely pools. Expect nudity as it is Northern California. The river is beloved by kayakers and swimmers. Perfect snow melt means August is the prime time," shares a visitor to South Yuba Campground.
Fishing and boating: Bullards Bar Reservoir attracts anglers and water sports enthusiasts. "If you own a boat, camp here! There's good fishing, water skiing and a fun family friendly campground," reports a visitor about Dark Day Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds in the area provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Lake of the Springs, one camper mentioned, "Each day a family of deer came thru our site and were so tame they ate fruit right out of the kids' hands. So cool!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds in the region offer varying levels of seclusion. "The campground had large spaces, perfect for your own privacy," notes a visitor to Schoolhouse Campground.
Clean facilities: Inn Town Campground receives praise for its maintenance standards. One visitor commented, "The campground is exceptionally clean and meticulously maintained. We even had a heated mattress pad in our glamping tent to keep warm."
Proximity to swimming: Access to water activities ranks high among campers' priorities. "We spent the days at Fuller Dam, and the Yuba River and Scotts Flat Reservoir are nearby too," shared a visitor to Inn Town Campground.
Scenic lakefront sites: At Collins Lake Recreation Area, waterfront locations are highly valued. "We stayed at site 60A Lake Front View, which had stunning water views and a spacious setup. The site gets a lot of sun in the morning and afternoon, so bring a popup canopy for shade."
What you should know
Steep water access: Despite proximity to Bullards Bar Reservoir, many campgrounds have challenging approaches to the water. A camper at Schoolhouse Campground observed, "The reservoir is gorgeous to look out at but the bank all the way around is very steep. From the campground there is no easy access to the water."
Road noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience traffic sounds. "The campground is no-frills and right on the highway, but a nice place overall," notes a visitor to White Cloud Campground.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies throughout the region. At Lake of the Springs, one camper reported, "Very nice campground, but cell coverage is nonexistent outside of one small area."
Generator noise: Campgrounds accommodating both tents and RVs without hookups may have noise issues. "Schoolhouse is definitely busier and louder. It's mixed RV and tent with no RV power so the generators are loud and you'll be surrounded by them," advises one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be prevalent, particularly near water. Pack repellent and consider timing visits. "A lot of mosquitoes, but once the fire kicks in they scatter," notes a visitor to Indian Valley Campground.
Swimming options for children: Lake of the Springs offers family-friendly water recreation. "We spent practically the whole weekend in the lake. It was the perfect temperature to sit in for hours. No motorized water craft kept it quiet," shares one visitor.
Kid-friendly activities: Collins Lake provides multiple recreation options. "Great place for family camping. They also have boat rentals," mentions a visitor, while another adds, "Plenty of activities for the family, like fishing and hiking."
Wildlife encounters: Organized wildlife viewing can be educational for children. "We loved Collins!! Very nice for paddle boarding and kayaking. Clean sites and pet friendly," comments one camper about the recreational opportunities.
Tips from RVers
Site selection considerations: At Schoolhouse Campground, RV parking requires planning. "While the space was long enough for our 35 ft trailer and truck the pad was narrow and there are a lot of rocks to maneuver around. We were barely able to open our slide and drop the stairs due to the amount of large rocks on each side of the pad."
Electrical reliability: Some campgrounds experience utility issues. At Lake of the Springs, a visitor noted, "There wasn't a single day when some campsite didn't have electrical issues, in fact they turned a lot of their RV sites into Tent Sites because of electrical issues."
Parking and maneuvering: Campsite layouts vary significantly. At Manzanita Rock Meadow, a visitor mentioned, "It was a little challenging getting our 16' trailer to the pad but it was worth it. So quiet and serene there. I don't think the bigger rigs would be able to make the turn into the site and the road to the entrance is a bit rough."
Weight restrictions: Be aware of road limitations when planning routes. A South Yuba Campground visitor noted, "Google and garmin routing from Nevada City takes a bridge with a 4 Ton weight restriction," which can impact larger RVs.
